Early Childhood Education

Would you love to work with young children? Our early childhood courses not only equip you with the qualifications you need to enter the industry, but can also create a pathway to university.

Our courses can be studied full-time or part-time, giving you the skills and knowledge to enter the industry or extend your skills if you are already working. By incorporating both theory and practical components, you’ll learn to develop, evaluate and implement programs for children in a variety settings.

Work placement and industry experience

Industry placements are a key component of our courses which allow you to apply your skills and knowledge and gain valuable experience. Our early childhood courses include two industry placements which are organised for you by The Gordon. This not only ensures you have solid experience under your belt, but it can also open up doors to future employment with many of our graduates gaining work with their placement hosts.

Our Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care is also run as a traineeship. For more information on becoming a trainee click here. If you are an employer looking to take on a trainee click here.

Find out more about working in Early Childhood

Career outcomes	Salary range
Early childhood educator	$40,830 - $62,074
Nanny	$31,511 - $55,833
Teacher - early childhood	$55,000 - $75,000*

Source: payscale.com & livingin-australia.com*. Criteria based on Australian occupations AUD. Updated 21 May 2018.
Note: salaries are a guide only, and are dependent on a range of factors including your experience, employer, and location.

Accredited Courses

Pathways to University

Study Tour

Profiles and Testimonials

'Being out of the workforce for over 20 years, I felt too old to be studying again, but I went to the Gordon information centre in Westfield Geelong to just get some information on where to start. I saw that they offered a course on Early Childhood Education and Care, so I went to the information evening about the Certificate III & ended up enrolling. I found the course & the teachers involved, to be absolutely amazing, extremely helpful & very encouraging. Upon completion of my Cert III in 2017, I was interested in furthering myself within this field, so with the encouragement from my teachers & my own determination, I enrolled in the Diploma level of Early Childhood Education and Care.

I was one of the lucky diploma students picked to go on the study tour to Cambodia in 2018, which was fantastic as well as being my first time outside of Australia. The Gordon is fantastic for providing opportunities like this.

I am currently in my second year of my diploma and am very proud of myself for getting this far and so are my children. Many thanks go to the amazing teaching staff from the Children’s services team at the Gordon Geelong city campus.'

Amanda Guajardo
Cert III Early Childhood Education and Care
Diploma Early Childhood Education and Care (1st year)

“My name is Francoise. I’m 36 years old and am a refugee from Congo in Africa. I speak six languages including English and I have five children.

When I first went to The Gordon I honestly had, in a single word, nothing. I lacked skill, experience and all I was looking and hoping for was simple. I started studying English as another language. Once I completed all English language certificates I went on to study Certificate III in Children’s Services, then my diploma.

The experience of studying at The Gordon was more than I could have ever asked for. The quality of teaching and the care and support I received was what really stood out for me. The Gordon has provided the pathway to many possible careers in the future and ones I never thought were possible. Not only did they help me apply for university, they also assisted me with my resume and I am now working full time at Kardinia childcare and Kindergarten Geelong.”